(birds chirping)
FRANZ: I thought that we could build our nest high up...
in the trees.
Fly away, like birds...
(choral music playing)
to the mountains.
(airplane engine rumbling)
(crowd cheering)
(music continues)
(man speaking indistinctly over speaker)
(man continues speaking indistinctly)
(crowd cheering loudly)
(cheering continues)
(speaking German)
(crowd cheering)
(scythe swinging)
(bells tinkling)
(hens clucking)
(cow moos)
- FRANZ: Potatoes. - FANI: Potatoes.
FRANZ: Oh, we have so many already.
(Fani chuckles)
(Fani chuckling)
(both laughing)
(water rushing)
(bells tinkling)
(chattering in German)
(indistinct chatter)
(chattering in German)
(laughing)
FANI: Remember the day when we first met?
You were shy like now.
I remember.
That motorcycle.
My best dress.
(indistinct chattering and cheering)
You looked at me...
and I knew.
How simple life was then.
(birds chirping)
FANI: It seemed no trouble could reach our valley.
(baby crying)
FANI: We lived above the clouds.
(both grunting)
(clucking)
FANI: My sister came to live with us.
He likes you.
(men laughing and chattering)
(Fani squeals and laughs)
FANI: We had our home.
(crickets chirping)
FANI: Your mother,
our family,
our village,
Radegund.
(airplane engine rumbling)
(birds chirping)
(bell tolling)
(bells tolling)
(bird squawking)
(metal clanking)
- (metal clanks) - Ah!
(indistinct chatter and laughter)
(metal clanking)
(indistinct chatter)
FRANZ: Dear Fani,
warm greetings to you from your Franz in training.
This week,
I have things easy.
In the mornings, riding on a motorcycle.
(blows grass whistle)
FRANZ: For me, it's entertaining.
Hello, mountains!
FRANZ: I would love to hear your singing again.
Hello, sun!
FRANZ: I'm looking forward to our reunion.
I met a fellow here.
His name is Waldland.
- How are you doing this? - Well...
In two months of training...
FRANZ: No pretense about him.
♪ I wish that I could be a little mouse ♪
♪ In the cornfield ♪
FRANZ: Always smiling.
♪ And I would be out there in the... ♪
♪ Sometimes I wish ♪
♪ I could be a little bird... ♪
(screams)
(men shouting)
(man shouting in German)
(screaming)
(shouting in German)
(birds chirping)
(man shouts in German)
(both singing in German)
FANI: My dear husband,
they say that France has surrendered.
(speaking German)
FANI: They're sending farmers home...
for now at least.
Is it true?
(speaking indistinctly)
FANI: Sister's lonely.
I wish she had someone like you.
We could use you here.
To break in the calf.
(fire crackling)
FANI: The harvest comes nearer.
We burned the bad weeds.
(yells)
(both laughing)
FANI: I got some piglets from Mossbauer.
(man speaking in German)
FANI: Four weeks old.
(conversing in German)
(laughing)
FANI: With warm greetings to you...
Your loving wife,
Fani.
(clapping and cheering)
(projector whirring)
(clapping and cheering)
(officer speaking German)
(applause)
(all cheering)
FRANZ: Oh, my wife,
what's happened to our country?
To the land we love?
(bells clanging)
(speaking German)
(panting)
(wind howling)
(panting)
(panting heavily)
(birds chirping)
(chuckles)
Where are the kids?
(exhales) Inside.
(chuckles)
(exhales sharply)
(clapping)
(children giggling)
(indistinct chatter)
FANI: Oh, Papa's coming for you!
(Fani giggling)
(Franz sighs)
(Fani laughing)
(dog barking)
(indistinct chatter)
(man singing in German)
(conversing in German)
(bell tolling in distance)
FRANZ: What is it?
(bell continues tolling)
I've just been called up.
(bell tolling)
We thought there would be peace,
but this war goes on.
- I don't know why. - Shh.
Do you believe in what we're fighting for?
Not really.
(indistinct chatter)
(bicycle bell rings)
(metal rattling)
(indistinct chatter)
(glasses clinking)
(men speaking in German)
(men singing in German)
MAYOR: He did what he had to.
He was not content to watch his nation go under.
Before he came, it all was in a state of collapse.
A Babylon!
We worshipped foreign gods.
FRANZ: You're drunk.
MAYOR: (laughing) No!
And I am not your friend. I am your Mayor!
And now they tell us
to spare these other races.
Degraded.
So contemptible they can no longer despise themselves!
They sow the earth with salt.
Instead of a world, there is a department store.
Foreigners swarm over our streets.
Immigrants who don't care
for the past, only for what they can grab.
This is what happens when a world...
when a world dies.
Men survive.
But their life is gone.
Their life is gone.
Their reason for living.
(indistinct chatter)
(men toasting in German)
MILLER: The mask is off.
I fear for my family.
Mother's old.
Yeah.
I hope she dies soon.
Don't they know evil when they see it?
We're used to it now.
Crime.
No shame.
(indistinct conversation)
MILLER: Be careful.
(birds chirping)
(bell tolling)
(water rushing)
(thunder rumbling)
(thunder crashes)
Father, if they call me up, I can't serve.
We're killing innocent people.
Raiding other countries.
Preying on the weak.
Now the priests call them heroes, even saints.
The soldiers that do this.
It might be that the other ones are the heroes.
The ones who defend their homes against the invaders.
Have you spoken with anyone else?
- Your wife? - No.
Family?
(sighs)
Don't you think
you ought to consider the consequences
of your actions?
For them?
You'd almost surely be shot.
- Yes. - (scoffs)
Your sacrifice
would benefit no one.
(birds chirping)
I'll speak with the Bishop, about your case.
A wiser man than I.
Thank you.
(children whispering indistinctly)
FANI: These last weeks, you're different.
What is it?
- Morning. - (Franz speaking German)
We are collecting for the war effort.
FRANZ: Hmm. I see.
I'm sorry, I...
Look, as I said, I don't have anything to give.
I'm... (SIGHS)
Please...
No.
I wish you all a good day.
(chicken clucking)
(rooster crowing)
(bucket squeaking)
(conversing in German)
(laughter)
MAYOR: You have refused to contribute
to our collection on behalf of the veterans?
Their families?
I also hear that you have refused
to accept the family allowance,
and other subsidies the state would have provided you.
Why?
Franz. Tell me.
Show a little humor.
- (Franz scoffs) - Yes.
Nobody refused but you.
Please.
Thank you.
(conversing in German)
(chickens clucking)
(rooster crowing)
(children chattering in distance)
(Franz breathes deeply)
(bells tolling)
BISHOP: We must be strong.
Stand firm.
Learn the lesson of the blacksmith.
No matter how hard the hammer strikes...
the anvil cannot,
need not, strike back.
The anvil outlives the hammer.
That which is hammered on the anvil,
takes its form,
not only from the hammer, but the anvil, too.
(priest speaks German)
Have a seat.
Your excellency.
Thank you so much for speaking with me.
If God gives us free will,
we're responsible for what we do...
what we fail to do...
aren't we?
If our leaders
are not good...
if they're evil...
What does one do?
I want to save my life,
but not through lies.
(floor creaking)
You have a duty to the Fatherland.
The church tells you so.
(bells tolling in distance)
Do you know the words
of the apostle?
"Let every man be subject
to the powers placed over him."
(bells continue tolling)
Do you hear those bells?
They're melting them.
For bullets.
FRANZ: I think he was afraid
that I might be a spy.
They don't dare to commit themselves,
or it could be their turn next.
(children giggling)
(all laughing)
(clock ticking)
(ticking continues)
ECKINGER: We can't blame the Bishop for going along.
He hoped, by doing it,
that the regime would be more tolerant towards the Church.
But now, the priests are sent
to concentration camps.
Church processions banned.
We don't have a say.
What can we do?
We,
little people here.
(birds chirping)
PAINTER: Give me a piece of coal.
- FRANZ: Coal? - Just one.
- Just one? - Yeah.
Thank you.
I paint the tombs of the prophets.
I help people look up from those pews and dream.
They look up and...
they imagine that if they lived back in Christ's time,
they wouldn't have done what the others did.
They would have murdered those whom they now adore.
I paint all this suffering, but I don't suffer myself.
I make a living of it.
What we do
is just create
sympathy.
We create...
(blows) We create admirers.
We don't create followers.
(bells tolling in distance)
Christ's life is a demand.
You don't want to be reminded of it.
So we don't have to see what happens to the truth.
A darker time is coming...
when men will be more clever.
They won't fight the truth.
They'll just ignore it.
I paint their comfortable Christ,
with a halo over his head.
How can I show
what I haven't lived?
Someday I might have the courage to venture.
Not yet.
Someday I'll...
I'll paint the true Christ.
(thunder rumbling)
(hails in German)
(insults in German)
(metal clanking)
(bicycle bell rings)
FANI: They won't call you up.
They need farmers.
(bells clanking)
How else are people going to eat?
(bells clanking)
Maybe the war will end soon.
- Is she asleep? - Yeah.
(indistinct chatter)
Why are you looking at me that way?
It's an act of madness.
A sin...
A sin against his family, against his village.
(indistinct chatter)
FRANZ: We're different, Mother.
I'm sorry.
But I am grateful to you for wishing me the best.
Your life was hard enough already.
(sighs)
RESIE: His mother looks at me coldly,
like I was to blame.
I want what you want.
But I can't bear that he makes you suffer.
(Fani sighs)
He makes a choice for you, too.
Does he know what he's doing?
Tell him.
Pride.
It's pride.
That's what it is.
FRANZ: Did they say something to you?
I saw them speaking to you by the road.
(sighs)
They said...
(sighs)
...their husbands have gone off to war.
Why should they fight to...
save us?
Did they hurt you...
with their words?
I don't care.
(children chatting indistinctly)
(sighs)
(rooster crowing)
(children chattering)
(man shouting in German in distance)
(yelling continues)
(bell tolling in distance)
(bicycle bell rings)
(church bell tolling in distance)
All good?
Yeah.
(indistinct chatter)
You were a wild one.
You fought with the police.
You know, you remember.
Who changed you?
Your wife?
I have sympathy with you.
I don't want anything bad.
I know.
So...
Help me.
Radegund loves you.
You...
You are a child of Radegund.
MAYOR: I am not your enemy.
I'm your friend.
- Yeah? - Yes, I am.
You still belong to our people.
You cannot say no
to your race.
And your blood.
And your village.
And your home.
We have to defend our land!
Till he came, the people were in despair.
Humiliated. In chains.
Who do you think they will make responsible?
It's me.
Who do you think they will interrogate?
You'll be hanged!
Do you understand what that means?
They'll hang you!
Your family, your wife, your children,
will have no one to support them.
Your mother will die unconsoled!
(dog barking in distance)
Calm down.
Don't touch me.
(panting)
You're worse.
You're worse than them!
Because they are enemies,
but you are a traitor!
(metal clanking)
I've been there, to Vienna.
I saw what happened there.
FRANZ: Lost.
BLACKSMITH: They kicked her in her face. Bleeding.
FRANZ: Torn from the tent in which we trusted.
BLACKSMITH: Killing the insane. Children.
FRANZ: Brought to the King of Terrors.
BLACKSMITH: We saw the hate in their eyes.
(shouting in German)
FRANZ: We've forgotten our true Fatherland.
(shouting in German)
(all shouting)
(bell tolling)
(shouting in German)
MAYOR: What would your father say?
What do you think?
- He fought. - Mm-hmm.
- He died. - Yes.
And what do you think what for he died?
In the trenches, in the mud?
Think about it.
Yeah.
I had a dream.
I saw a train.
(train chugging)
The locomotive was powerful and dark, and...
it drew the children.
And you couldn't see where it was going, just...
the fields and trees flashing by.
I hold to a memory.
Of what I knew once.
I find no one to turn to.
Nothing enters my soul.
(bells clanking)
(bell tolling)
(conversing in German)
(bell continues tolling)
(all shouting in German)
(Franz grunting)
(sawing)
When have our prayers not been answered?
(children chattering)
If we're faithful to him, he'll be faithful to us.
I believe it.
We have him.
(water trickling)
That's enough.
(machinery whirring)
The whole world is sinking.
(fire crackling)
There's no answer.
To follow him...
is insanity.
What are you going to do, Franz?
They ask you to take an oath
- to the Antichrist. - (exhales deeply)
I know, I know.
It's a life without honor.
Is this here,
the end of the world?
Is this the death
of the light?
(train chugging)
(fire crackling)
FRANZ: We are like a breath.
(shouting indistinctly)
FRANZ: Like a shadow that passes away.
Madness!
(inaudible)
(fire crackling)
(train chugging)
(bell tolling in distance)
(bicycle bell ringing)
(birds chirping)
FRANZ: I've been called up.
FANI: You could hide in the woods.
We'll run away!
To the mountains!
(bell tolling)
(metal clattering)
(Fani sobbing softly)
FATHER FÜRTHAUER: Does a man have the right to let
himself be put to death?
For the truth?
Could it possibly please God?
He wants us to have peace.
Happiness.
Not to bring suffering on ourselves.
FRANZ: We have to stand up to evil.
(sighs)
You're going to do it, aren't you?
(sobbing)
(clatters)
(breathing heavily)
RESIE: Her happiness is in your hands.
She could have had other men.
We have enough troubles in our lives.
You want too little for yourself, Fani.
Why don't you oppose him, Fani?
Hmm?
Resist him.
You don't know what unhappiness is!
Your man never left you.
Oh, okay.
You can't change the world.
The world's stronger.
I need you.
(sobbing quietly)
(Resie shushing)
FANI: You could work in a hospital.
There's nothing wrong with that.
Is there?
(both laughing)
(children chattering indistinctly)
You want to have more?
(wind blowing)
(children laughing)
(sniffles)
(crying)
ROSALIA: My dear son.
(thunder rumbling)
You're all I have.
You know what it is like to grow up without a father.
I know what it's like to be alone.
(marbles clattering)
(inaudible)
FANI: Girls, your...
Your father is going away.
On a journey.
On a long journey.
He'll be gone for a while.
(man greeting in German)
(indistinct announcement over PA)
(Fani sighs)
(train conductor speaking German)
(men conversing in German)
(men pledging in German)
(man speaking German)
FRANZ: My dear wife.
I know you fear for me,
but my burden is light.
(speaking Italian)
FRANZ: When I compare my suffering
to that of other people,
I see that mine is the smallest of crosses.
(exclaiming)
It is horrible what they have suffered.
(continues speaking Italian)
FRANZ: You have to remember
what you knew in a better hour.
(Franz sighs)
(shouting in foreign language)
(whistle blows)
FRANZ: Spring has come.
My three little girls will already be
running barefoot, picking flowers.
It would be better to tell them
where their father is than to tell them stories.
(man speaking in German)
The fresh green of the grass is good for a person.
Someone with freedom might not notice it.
(speaks German)
(conversing in Italian)
(soldier speaking German)
FRANZ: Greetings to Mother, to you,
the girls and all.
See you again.
(birds chirping)
(thunder rumbling)
FANI: Dear husband.
(thunder rumbling)
Greetings in God,
who will make everything right again.
Greetings from your three little women.
(Rosalia and children laughing)
They say to tell you only
about the good things they're doing.
Of course.
But I wouldn't surprise you
by telling you about their disobedience.
Ow!
(sobbing)
FANI: I have to scold the girls.
(Rosalia exclaims)
They're always demanding my attention.
Rosi's always asking about you.
When we are going to bed,
she says,
"Leave the door unlocked
so Papa can come in."
(shushing)
At meals,
"Save some for Papa."
She sang a song for you.
Wondered if you could hear.
Rosi wanted to take your picture to bed with her tonight.
(whispering prayers indistinctly)
You were supposed to sleep beside her.
I told her that when Father comes home, he will.
Good night.
Warm greetings from your loving wife,
Fani.
(birds chirping)
You may leave us alone.
Have a seat.
(keys jangling)
(lighter clicks)
What good do you think your defiance is doing anyone?
You think it will change the course of things?
You think the authorities are aware of you?
That your protests will come to their attention?
Do you think anyone will know of it? Ever hear?
No one knows what goes on behind these walls. No one.
What purpose does it serve?
FRANZ: Does it make no difference
if this war is just or unjust?
CAPTAIN HERDER: You shine their shoes.
You fill their sandbags.
Are you innocent?
(soldier speaks German)
(speaking German)
- (laughing) - (babbling)
CAPTAIN HERDER: What is it?
Pride?
(continues laughing)
Are you better than the rest?
Are you alone wise?
How do you know what is good or bad?
You know better than I?
Did heaven tell you this?
Heard a voice?
There's a difference,
between the kind of suffering we can't avoid
and the suffering we choose.
(gunshot in distance)
(men shouting indistinctly)
(soldier shouting in German)
(breathing heavily)
CAPTAIN HERDER: You've forgotten what the world looks like.
The light.
The sky.
(birds chirping)
I didn't make this world the way it is.
And neither did you.
We all have blood on our hands.
No one is innocent.
Crime, bloodshed everywhere.
He who created this world...
he created evil.
Conscience makes cowards of us all.
Take care, my friend.
The Antichrist is clever.
He uses a man's virtues...
to mislead him.
(birds chirping)
(train whistle blows)
(indistinct chatter)
FRANZ: Dearest wife...
(steam engine hissing)
I leave for Berlin at 10:13 A.M.
(train chugging)
Have no concerns about me.
Pray for me.
(train chugging)
(bell dinging)
(door closes)
(whistles)
(soldier speaking German)
(indistinct shouting)
(door closing)
(door locking)
(bell tolling in distance)
(sniffles)
(train passing)
(door unlocking)
Look down.
Down.
Up.
(door closes)
(door locking)
FANI: Dear husband...
Your letter of May 7th has arrived.
Many thanks.
The well went dry on Thursday.
We need a good rain.
(rooster crowing)
(scoffs)
(exclaims)
FANI: What I feared has come.
I have found no one to assist with the work,
except for Resie.
Strohofer stole beets from our field.
(Fani singing in German)
FANI: I hear nothing but your voice.
(children chattering indistinctly)
FANI: I visited the widow.
Maria.
She hadn't spoken with anyone in two weeks.
(conversing in German)
FANI: The new hay gives me hope.
The scent in the barn.
(children laughing)
FANI: The wind.
(exclaims)
FANI: The wheat.
The sky.
(man speaking German)
FANI: He won't send us more than we can bear.
(man continues speaking in German)
- (bell tolling) - (indistinct chatter)
(bell continues tolling in distance)
(birds chirping)
Excuse me, can you tell me...
(typewriter clicking)
(phone ringing)
(playing harpsichord gently)
(Fani speaks German)
MAJOR KIEL: The Colonel must be consulted.
May I meet with him?
MAJOR KIEL: A busy man.
But phone, make an appointment.
I've tried to,
but my call isn't answered.
That surprises me.
The problem must be on your side.
The telephone works quite well up here.
FANI: Then...
how can I make an appointment?
You don't answer my letters.
It took me two days to get here.
It's a very difficult journey.
(screaming)
(bell tolling in distance)
(dog barking in distance)
(sniffles)
(sobbing softly)
(guard shouts in German)
(banging on metal)
(keys jingling)
(continues shouting in German)
(guard 2 shouting in German)
FRANZ: Most beloved wife...
Once again, warm greetings from your loving husband.
(continues shouting)
I'll write a few words,
just as they come from my heart.
Even though I am writing them with bound hands,
it's still better than if my will were bound.
(guard 3 speaking German)
(guard 4 shouting in German)
(prisoner coughing)
(guard 5 speaking German)
FRANZ: These men...
have no friends.
No loving hand to hold theirs.
(quietly) What are you here for?
(quietly) Treason.
FRANZ: They've seen sorrow.
Shame.
Destruction.
What strong hearts.
(prisoner screaming)
(guard speaking German)
(speaks German)
FRANZ: When you give up the idea
of surviving at any price...
a new light floods in.
Once you were in a rush...
always short of time.
Now you have all you need.
(yells)
(man speaking German on PA)
FRANZ: Once you never forgave anyone...
judged people without mercy.
(announcement on PA continues)
FRANZ: Now you see your own weakness...
so you can understand the weakness of others.
- (guard shouts in German) - (banging on metal)
(Franz grunts)
(Franz panting)
(Franz screams)
(muffled screaming)
(water dripping)
(digging)
(grunting)
(panting)
(bucket rattles)
(panting heavily)
(children chatting indistinctly)
(donkey sneezing)
(birds chirping)
(twig snaps)
Do you think...
I did this?
ROSALIA: He used to be different.
He changed when he met you.
(children singing in German)
(singing continues)
(tuba playing)
FRANZ: My dear children...
(bell tolling)
I thought of you especially, Corpus Christi Sunday.
(conversing in German)
FRANZ: The bells ringing
over the fields.
(bells continue tolling)
I would have loved to have seen you
with your crowns of flowers.
Your devoted father greets you,
from far away.
(shouting in German)
(all shouting in German)
(speaking German)
(men continue shouting)
FANI: Dear husband...
(shouting in German)
FANI: Loving greetings to you on this Sunday.
We're all concerned about you.
(shouting in German)
FANI: Hopefully,
things are not going poorly.
The girls send greetings.
Loisi says they will give you kisses together.
I'm always with you in thought.
FANI: I can go to Salzburg.
(typewriter clicking)
Papa offered to come with me.
(indistinct chatter in German)
(Fani speaks German)
Fear overcomes me.
I know it should not.
(indistinct chatter)
FANI: Trust in the triumph of the good.
(indistinct chatter)
No evil can happen to a good man.
Not a sparrow falls to Earth,
but he knows it.
(conversing in German)
SCHWANINGER: I'm sorry.
A father...
loves his child.
A father
wants his child to be happy.
For life not to touch her.
And you...
such a good child.
Franz, too.
Better to suffer injustice than to do it.
(indistinct chatter)
(bell tolling)
FELDMAN: I've been appointed by the court
to be your defense attorney.
As I understand, your resistance is
specifically to serving in combat.
But I believe if you were to accept medical service,
you would work
as an orderly in a hospital, that sort of thing.
They would probably drop these charges.
Will I be required to swear loyalty to Hitler?
FELDMAN: Oh, words!
I mean, no one takes that sort of thing seriously. Hmm?
I can't.
You are a stubborn man.
See here, I am going to leave this paper with you.
Keep it with you.
Sign,
and you will go free.
But I am free.
So... why am I here?
I don't know.
(chains clinking)
(chains continue clinking)
FRANZ: You...
my shepherd.
You make me lie down in green pastures.
By the river of life.
You...
my strength.
You show me the path.
You...
our light.
Darkness is not dark to you.
Bring us to your eternal light.
To you.
The true.
(screaming in distance)
The never-failing light.
You call me your brother.
FRANZ: Father.
To you I cry.
My rock.
My fortress.
I can do as I like with you.
Nobody would know. Nobody would care.
Nobody'd lift a hand to stop me.
Who sees us?
(muffled screaming)
FRANZ: Give me strength.
To follow you.
Spirit...
(muffled chatter and shouting)
FRANZ: Lead me.
Show me.
(indistinct voices whispering)
(door slams in distance)
(guard shouting in German)
(voices continue whispering)
FANI: Lord...
(inaudible)
FANI: You do nothing.
(chain clinking)
(band playing in distance)
(chain clinking)
(guard speaking German)
FANI: Where are you?
(shouting in German)
FANI: Why did you create us?
(flies buzzing)
(humming)
(banging on door)
NIKOLAI: Have the persecuted
received the kingdom of heaven?
(Nikolai exhales)
(distant shouting)
NIKOLAI: The meek inherited the earth?
(thudding) (breathing shakily)
The wise deceive us.
Afraid.
Oh...
I was once like you.
(sighs)
Confess it.
Your God has no pity.
He left us. Abandoned us.
Like he did your Christ.
His son!
(whistle blows in distance)
(indistinct announcement on PA)
How far we are from having our daily bread.
How far from being delivered
from evil!
If we could only see the beginning of his kingdom.
- (siren blaring) - (indistinct shouting)
NIKOLAI: The dawn!
- But... - (bell clangs)
Nothing.
(sirens continue)
Nothing ever!
(man shouting in German)
Why give your life for them?
(shouting continues)
(speaking indistinctly)
(man whispering in German)
NIKOLAI: Your man died in vain.
He came.
And it was all for nothing.
(man speaking German)
(guard whistles)
(guards chattering indistinctly)
NIKOLAI: We had 20 centuries of failure.
We need a successful saint.
(faint rumbling)
(air raid siren blaring)
(muffled shouting)
(siren continues)
(muffled explosions)
(exclaims)
(cow snorting)
(panting)
RESIE: Oh, yeah.
No one will help us,
well, we do it on our own.
Sister?
Yes.
(exclaiming)
(urging)
(cow snorts)
(Fani sighs)
(Resie speaking indistinctly)
RESIE: Come on. (urging)
- (Fani panting) - (Resie groans)
(Fani grunts)
Okay.
Yeah.
(bell tolling)
(rooster crowing in distance)
FRANZ: Dear wife,
I still can't say how my future will unfold.
What comes next is seldom better.
And still, now begins the month of June.
The most beautiful month.
Nature does not notice the sorrow
that has come over the people.
Though I cannot see much here,
I imagine that everything
is a more lovely green than in past years.
(whirring)
At dawn,
we can hear blackbirds singing loudly outside our windows.
They seem to have more freedom
and to know more of peace and happiness,
though they are only unreasoning animals
than we humans do.
We, who have the gift of understanding.
(whirring continues)
- (donkey whining) - (shushing)
You gave me back more than I gave you.
(panting)
- (donkey braying) - (Miller exclaims)
(Miller whistles)
FRANZ: I found a fellow here
from my training days.
Franz?
Franz!
Look at you.
(both laughing)
What have you done? You're a criminal!
FRANZ: He lifts the spirits of the other fellows.
WALDLAND: We're getting on just fine.
Good, bad, together.
FRANZ: He asks about our family.
Don't you worry.
Trouble lasts a day.
Yeah, eat. Eat. Eat.
- Is that all you have? - Yeah.
WALDLAND: Have you heard of the Scharfrichter?
The one who chops off your head?
He's a very well-dressed man.
He comes and he has a...
a big hat.
He is a man of good taste.
He cuts your head, but it's a clean cut,
and before you can think a thought,
just... (exclaims)
I wonder how it feels.
Maybe your body's old, your head is young,
and you see your head flying away.
And your old arms...
they reach up
to the head.
And they're still in chains.
And you take this young head...
and you put it back on your body.
And you open your eyes...
and the chains are gone!
But what happens then?
Maybe you'll see the moon.
(muffled shouting)
WALDLAND: Or the stars.
- (upbeat music playing) - (rhythmic clapping)
(people cheering)
You know, even if it rains,
the sun is shining.
The sun
shines on good
and evil
the same.
There are more chains
than mad dogs. (guard shouts)
(Waldland and Franz singing in German)
(chuckles softly)
(humming)
WALDLAND: I wish I'd had a wife.
And a farm.
And apple trees.
And a cherry tree.
And...
maybe some grapes.
We could do our own wine.
White wine.
And red wine. One red wine for the winter.
And white wine for the summer.
We would not drink too much.
We would pray. And work.
But sometimes...
Sometimes, a little drink is good.
Sometimes...
we would go to church.
And sometimes not. Sometimes...
we'd stay at home.
And we'd make music.
(children laughing)
(car engine running)
(indistinct chatter)
(bell tolling in distance)
(indistinct chatter)
(man hails in German)
(all hail in German)
(prosecutor speaking German)
(prosecutor's voice fading)
Do you have anything to say
in your defense?
(shouting in German)
(judge clears throat)
(bangs gavel)
JUDGE: We'll have a short recess.
(bird squawking in distance)
(knocking at door)
- Come in. - (door opens)
Please, uh...
(door closes)
Sit down.
Thank you.
JUDGE: Do you imagine that anything you do
will change the course of this war?
That anyone outside this court will ever hear of you?
No one will be changed.
The world will go on as before.
(sighs)
Your actions may even have the opposite effect
of what you intend.
Someone else will take your place.
Do you judge me?
I don't judge you.
I'm not saying,
"He's wicked.
I am right."
I don't know everything.
A man...
may do wrong.
And...
he can't get out of it.
To make his life clear.
Maybe... he'd like to go back but he can't.
But...
I have this feeling inside me...
(sighs)
...that I can't do
what I believe is wrong.
Do you have a right to do this?
Do I have a right not to?
JUDGE: The judgment of this court is...
death.
(gavel bangs)
(footsteps receding)
(conversing in German)
FELDMAN: So today they pronounced the sentence.
But they still
have to confirm it.
Sign the paper in your cell.
You'll go free. I can work it out.
(muffled shouting)
(Franz praying in German)
(continues praying)
(Fani praying in German)
(Franz praying in German)
(chains clinking)
(Fani praying in German)
(birds chirping)
(bell tolling)
(bicycle bell ringing)
FANI: It's from his lawyer!
(Fani cries out)
(whispering) They've condemned him to death.
I have to go to Berlin.
I'll come with you.
(train chugging)
(train horn blows)
(indistinct announcement on PA)
(bell dings)
(shouting in distance)
(shouting continues)
(sirens wailing in distance)
(phone ringing)
(speaking German)
FANI: Franz!
(exhales sharply)
You're doing no one any good.
No one.
This could be the last opportunity to abandon this...
senseless position.
If you do...
FANI: Franz.
...I will at once petition the court
to stay the execution of your sentence,
but it must be done without delay.
Do you understand?
Now.
(stammers) I'm sticking my neck out here.
This could jeopardize my career...
my personal safety.
The charges would be dropped, I'm sure, if you just...
change your stand.
I beg you to.
The war may soon be over.
You might...
You might never have to face a situation
that would call on you to do what you oppose.
FANI: My love.
FATHER FÜRTHAUER: Franz.
Don't you see what's coming?
There's not much time!
God doesn't care what you say, only what's in your heart.
Say the oath and think what you like.
FRANZ: Do you understand?
I love you.
Whatever you do.
Whatever...
comes.
I'm with you.
Always.
Do what is right.
FANI: (sobbing) No! Let me go!
(inaudible)
FANI: You said,
"Knock.
It will be opened.
Ask.
It will be given."
(inaudible)
(breathing heavily)
(grunting)
(breathing shakily)
ROSALIA: You've always been good to me.
And to my son.
And I've...
Forgive me!
(bell tolling)
(muffled banging)
(bell tinkling)
(tinkling continues)
FANI: You.
You love him more than I do.
Give him courage.
Wisdom.
Strength.
(hens clucking)
(air raid siren blaring in distance)
FRANZ: Father...
(praying in German)
FATHER KREUTZBERG: Tomorrow it will be done.
(continues praying)
FRANZ: Thank you, Father.
(speaking German)
(inaudible)
FRANZ: Now, my dear children...
When mother reads this letter to you,
your father will be dead.
Through God's grace we'll soon meet again.
Dearest wife and mother...
It was not possible for me to free you from the sorrows
that you've endured for me.
And now,
oh, my dear ones,
don't forget me in your prayers.
I pray for you.
From the other side.
(gate closes)
(bell dinging)
(guard shouting in German)
What do I write?
(guard speaks German)
Shh.
(metallic thud)
(speaks German)
(speaking German)
(Franz whispering prayer in German)
(continues praying)
FANI: Franz.
Franz.
(man speaks German)
(guard speaks German)
(man speaks German)
(man speaking German)
(bell tolling in distance)
(tolling continues)
(tolling stops)
(Resie grunts)
(bells clanking)
A time will come when we will know
what all this is for.
And there will be no mysteries. We will know...
why...
we live.
We'll come together.
We'll plant orchards.
Fields.
We'll build the land back up.
Franz.
I'll meet you there.
In the mountains.
(indistinct chatter)
Captioned by Zoo Digital